Spring Skincare for Your Face: Ayurvedic Secrets for a Healthy Glow

As the season changes, so should your skincare routine.

Spring is a time of renewal, and just as nature sheds the heaviness of winter, your skin also needs to transition.

In Ayurveda, spring is associated with Kapha dosha, which brings moisture, oiliness, and sometimes congestion.

By following Ayurvedic principles, you can achieve balanced, radiant skin.

Here’s a guide to spring skincare using Ayurvedic wisdom.

In this post:

• A Review of Kapha Dosha, Which Rules Spring

• Understanding the Skin’s Needs in Spring

• Ayurvedic Spring Skincare Routine

• Ayurvedic Herbs for Spring Skincare

• DIY Spring Skincare Face Masks

• Foods for Healthy Skin in Spring

• Lifestyle Tips for Glowing Skin

• Evening Spring Skincare Routine

• Conclusion

A Review of Kapha Dosha, Which Rules Spring

The qualities of Kapha dosha are:

• heavy

• slow/dull

• cold

• oily

• smooth

• dense

• soft

• static/stable

• gross

• cloudy/sticky.

The general rule concerning these qualities is that like increases like, and opposites decrease.

Following this rule, excess Kapha dosha qualities in the spring should be balanced with:

• light

• sharp

• warm

• dry

• rough

• liquid (or liquifying/melting)

• hard

• mobile

• subtle

• clear.

Of course, it is important to not only make changes based on the season, but also take your own constitution, current state of balance, and time of life into account.

For example, if you have a lot of Vata dosha in your constitution, an excess of Vata dosha, or if you are in the Vata time of life (menopause onward), then your Kapha balancing in the spring may need to be less intense.

Pay attention to how your body reacts to each quality listed above when they are present in your foods or daily practices.

Understanding the Skin’s Needs in Spring

Spring is a time of transformation, both in nature and within our bodies.

As the cold, dry qualities of winter give way to the warmer, wetter attributes of spring, Kapha dosha—composed of earth and water elements—begins to dominate.

This shift to spring increases moisture and heaviness in the environment, leading to a rise in oiliness, clogged pores, and skin congestion.

Everyone in spring may notice increased breakouts or excess oiliness because of the excess moisture in the air.

To maintain balance, Ayurveda suggests lightening up your skincare routine, much like nature does with its shedding of winter’s heaviness.

Detoxification, gentle exfoliation, and the use of warming, bitter, and astringent herbs help to remove accumulated toxins, refresh the skin, and keep it luminous.

The goal of spring skincare is to encourage natural cell turnover, improve circulation, and prevent the stagnation that can lead to dullness and breakouts.

Ayurvedic Spring Skincare Routine

1. Lightweight Moisturization with Ayurvedic Oils

Heavy creams can clog pores in spring, and at any time of year.

Instead, opt for natural oils like coconut, which nourish the skin without being too greasy.

Ayurveda recommends saffron-infused oil, Kumkumadi Oil, for a natural glow.

Athreya Herbs has a beautiful Kumkumadi Oil specifically formulated for the face.

Click the image to purchase

2. Exfoliation to Remove Kapha Build-Up

Spring is the perfect time for regular exfoliation.

A natural scrub made of chickpea flour, turmeric, and sandalwood helps remove dead skin cells and revives the skin.

Exfoliate 2-3 times a week to keep the complexion clear and glowing.

DIY Exfoliating Scrub:

• 6 parts chickpea flour

• ½ part turmeric

• 1 part sandalwood powder

• 1 part neem powder

• 1/2 part ginger powder

Mix dry ingredients and store in an airtight container.

When you are ready to exfoliate your face, mix 1-2 teaspoons with:

• 1 tablespoon yogurt, milk, rose water, or warm water

Blend into a paste, apply gently, and rinse with warm water.

Or you can try this Healthy Face Scrub from Athreya Herbs:

Click the image to purchase

3. Steam Therapy for Deep Detoxification

Herbal steam with tulsi, lavender, or rose opens the pores and helps flush out toxins.

This step enhances your spring skincare by preventing breakouts and improving circulation.

DIY Herbal Steam:

• Boil 4 cups of water and add dried tulsi, rose, or lavender.

• Cover your head with a towel and lean over the bowl for 5 minutes.

• Rinse your face with cool water afterward.

4. Toning with Rose or Aloe Vera

Using a natural toner like rose water or aloe vera gel soothes the skin and maintains hydration.

Each individual is different, so see how your face responds to each component of this routine.

For example, someone in the Pitta time of life (puberty to menopause) may experience more oiliness than someone in the Vata time of life (menopause onward).

You may find that you only need to oil and use an exfoliant daily, or maybe the exfoliant is too drying for your skin--in which case, you can skip to steaming or toning your skin.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Spring Skincare

1. Neem for Detoxification

Neem has antibacterial properties that reduce breakouts and purify the skin.

Adding neem to your exfoliating powder enhances spring skincare by keeping skin clear.

2. Sandalwood for Cooling

Sandalwood reduces inflammation and gives the skin a cooling effect, perfect for the transition from spring to summer's rising temperatures.

It also reduces itching associated with Kapha and Pitta doshas and can even reduce swelling, redness, eczema, and acne (Pole, 262).

3. Turmeric for Brightening

A well-known Ayurvedic remedy, turmeric evens skin tone and prevents blemishes, making it a must-have for spring skincare.

It is also known for stopping skin diseases with its astringent and antibacterial properties (Pole, 282).

In addition to using turmeric in an exfoliant paste, the benefits to the skin can also be achieved through eating food cooked with it.

4. Manjistha for Radiance

Manjistha, a powerful blood purifier, enhances the skin’s glow and reduces pigmentation.

DIY Spring Skincare Face Masks

1. Cooling Cucumber & Aloe Mask

Mix cucumber juice with aloe vera gel for a refreshing mask that soothes irritated skin and hydrates naturally.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cucumber juice

• 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Apply for 15 minutes and rinse with cool water.

2. Turmeric & Honey Glow Mask

Blend turmeric with honey and yogurt for a brightening and antibacterial treatment.

Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon turmeric

• 1 tablespoon raw honey

• 1 tablespoon yogurt

  
  

Apply for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.

3. Rose & Sandalwood Soothing Mask

Combine rose powder with sandalwood and milk for a nourishing, cooling face pack.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon rose powder

• 1 teaspoon sandalwood powder

• 2 tablespoons milk

Apply for 15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

Foods for Healthy Skin in Spring

Diet plays a key role in spring skincare.

Eating seasonal, light foods like leafy greens, citrus fruits, and berries helps detoxify the skin from within.

Avoid overconsumption of dairy and heavily fried foods in the spring to prevent excess oiliness.

Ayurvedic Diet Tips for Spring:

• Favor light, warm meals like soups and stews with clear broth and bitter and astringent veggies.

• Incorporate bitter greens such as kale and dandelion.

• Drink herbal teas with tulsi, ginger, and fennel.

• Reduce dairy and fried foods to prevent congestion.

• Include pomegranate and berries to promote detoxification.

Lifestyle Tips for Glowing Skin

• Drink warm water with lemon/lime and honey in the morning to flush out toxins.

• Practice daily yoga and pranayama to improve circulation.

• Get enough sleep to support skin renewal.

• Use natural fiber pillowcases to prevent skin irritation.

• Stay active to boost blood circulation and detoxification.

• Practice garshana to stimulate lymphatic drainage and remove dead skin cells.

• Take Triphala for inner cleansing.

Evening Spring Skincare Routine

At night, your skin goes into repair mode, making your spring skincare routine just as important before bed.

1. Nighttime Facial Massage

A 5-minute facial massage with oil improves circulation and nourishes the skin deeply.

Use a gentle natural oil like the Kumkumadi Oil mentioned above.

2. Cleansing

Follow the oil with a mild herbal cleanser (like the exfoliation blend recipe above) to remove makeup and impurities.

3. Soothing Herbal Mask

Apply a calming mask with clay, turmeric, anantmul, amalaki, and rose water before bed to reduce inflammation and promote a fresh complexion.

Or you can use this Healthy Face Mask by Athreya Herbs:

Click the image to purchase

Remember to pay attention to how these evening routines affect your skin.

If there is excess oil, use herbal mask, if your face is dry, use more oil and less of the herbal mask.

Conclusion

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to spring skincare, ensuring your skin transitions smoothly with the season.

By incorporating detoxifying routines, cooling herbs, and a light diet, you can achieve a naturally radiant glow.

This spring, embrace Ayurvedic wisdom to keep your skin healthy, fresh, and luminous!

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Some of the research for this post comes from Sebastian Pole's fabulous book Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice.